Thursday Briefing: Bruno offers perspective
It's the morning after the night before at Manchester United, and sadly we're reflecting on an evening to forget for the Reds.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side lost 2-1 to Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey, after conceding two disappointing first-half goals and failing to add to Anthony Martial's consolation strike just before the interval.
But influential midfielder Bruno Fernandes told us after the game that there's no time to feel downhearted – and that the squad is still in a great position to qualify for the knockout stages.Bruno: We made things complicated
Fernandes says that United didn't start with enough intensity in Turkey, but that the Reds are still confident...
“This game was important for us – winning the game to be comfortable in the table. Of course, making one or a few points again we [would have almost] passed [qualified from] the group. But now it's the same. We are in a good position. We need to do the same: going for every game, trying to win, and it will not be different in the Champions League.”
Fernandes was frustrated that the Reds didn’t arrive with enough intensity in the early stages of the game, and feels the manner of the goals conceded warrants close analysis in the coming days.
“Everything goes wrong, we did everything wrong,” he lamented. “The intensity was not good since the beginning of the game. They found a goal early and, after, the game was complicated for us. We tried until the end but the problem was [that] I think we came later into the game.
“We can do much better; everyone feels that. We know we can't concede goals like that, but now it's time to look [at] what we did wrong, to make it better in the next game.”
Ole's post-match interview
The manager gives his take on a disappointing night for United in Istanbul...
The 26-year-old also said Basaksehir’s display deserved credit – particularly their organised, disciplined defending.
“You know when you score a goal and you go 2-1 before the ending of the first half, you go to the break a little more confident,” said Bruno. “And I think we come out in the second half, we play, and we tried it, but we didn't create a lot of chances. We didn't shoot on goal.
Unfortunately, there is little time to reflect for the Reds, with this Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Everton coming barely 48 hours after the team’s return to the UK. But Fernandes says the lads simply have to get themselves ready to put in a positive performance and get a decent result.
“Of course, in the league we are not in a good position – we all know that,” Fernandes admitted. “We need to do much better, and we need to do something more than say ‘do something in the next game’ because it will be a difficult game for us. Our focus now needs to be already there.”
Battle in Istanbul
GalleryCheck out our selection of shots from the Reds' Group H tie in Turkey.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY?
It's a quiet day at United, after a regrettable result in the Champions League game with Istanbul Basaksehir. Ole's side are back in Manchester, recharging the batteries, as we start the build-up to Saturday's crunch Premier League fixture against Everton at Goodison Park.
Elsewhere, England will announce their squad for the upcoming November internationals against Republic of Ireland (friendly), Belgium and Iceland (UEFA Nations League group stage).
We'll also be announcing the winner of our October Goal-of-the-Month award. Keep your eye out across ManUtd.com for that one: Marcus Rashford's goal against PSG and Bruno's great finish against Newcastle are in the running.Highlights: Basaksehir 2 United 1
Watch Martial’s goal, on what was a disappointing evening for the Reds in Istanbul…
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
As we're sure you're aware, United lost 2-1 to Istanbul Basaksehir during the third match of our Champions League Group H campaign. The Reds are still in a good position after winning their first two games, against PSG and RB Leipzig, but there's now more pressure on matchday four, where we'll host the Turks at Old Trafford.
RB Leipzig defeated PSG in the other fixture in our group, despite falling behind to an Angel Di Maria goal. The ex-Red then missed a penalty before Christopher Nkunku and an Emil Forsberg spot-kick earned three valuable points for the Germans. Idrissa Gueye and Presnel Kimpembe were both sent off.
We heard from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Donny van de Beek after the game, while you can also watch Ole's press conference in full. The boss had a short injury-related update, too: explaining why Victor Lindelof remained on the bench throughout Wednesday's match.
You can also watch an interview with Rafael da Silva, who spoke to club media after facing his beloved Reds for the first time since departing the club in 2015.